Although Toulouse is one of France’s biggest cities, it’s still off the beaten path when it comes to tourism. That may be because it’s landlocked in southern France, caught between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. But don’t let that dissuade you from visiting. La Ville en Rose—nicknamed The Pink City for its signature pink brickwork—is worth making time for, if only for a few days. Maximize your time in town by letting Uber in Toulouse show you the city’s secrets.

Here are some tips and information to help make sure your travels through Toulouse goes smoothly:

Resources for Toulouse-Blagnac Airport

  • Uber Airport Page: Consult Uber’s dedicated webpage to find out all you need to know about taking uberX at TLS.
  • Terminals: TLS has two terminals: Terminal South (two halls) and Terminal West (four halls).
  • Flight Info: Real-time departure and arrival information for TLS can be found on the airport’s website.
  • Security: Wait times for both security and customs depend entirely on the day, and airlines that fly out of TLS suggest getting to the airport with enough time to spare before your flight. Depending on your airline, it could be a long walk to get to your gate. Aim to arrive at least two hours prior to boarding.
  • Lounges: TLS has one lounge, called the La Croix du Sud lounge, in Hall C. Free wireless is available, but requires creating an account.
  • News: Stay updated by following TLS on their official Twitter feed.
  • Uber at TLS: Currently uberX is the only sole Uber service at TLS. Open the Uber app on your phone after you’ve collected your bags and select the right pickup for your terminal. Cross-check the name and license plate before getting in.

Recommended Destinations in Toulouse

Toulouse has a deep and hallowed history with a lot of significance, as evidenced by its many churches. But surprisingly, it’s also a modern hub of aerospace and technology. Here are some suggestions on how to get the most out of visiting Toulouse:

  • See a really old church: Saint-Sernin Basilica in Toulouse, consecrated in 1096, is the biggest Romanesque cathedral on the continent—and possibly in the world. It also houses a large Cavaillé-Coll pipe organ, installed in 1888. The church, which was built on top of the site of a former 4th-century abbey church, is a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its placement along the Way of St. James (also known as the Road to Santiago) pilgrimage route. It contains a number of relics donated to the abbey church by Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, before his death in 800.
  • Visit the burial place of a philosopher: Saint Thomas Aquinas—the priest, philosopher, author, and one of the most influential figures of the Western world—is enshrined at Toulouse’s Church of the Jacobins. The church is a pink-brick cathedral that features a wide interior column with branch-like detail built into the ceiling called “the palm tree.” Following the French Revolution and the resulting expulsion of the Jacobins (Dominicans, in English), Napoleon used the church as a military barracks, destroying some of the building’s artwork. It was later restored after public outcry.
  • Go to space: Toulouse is also the headquarters of Airbus and is the aerospace capital of Europe. After you’ve spent some time in some of the oldest parts of town, head to Cité de l’Espace for a more modern (and kid-friendly) experience. Visitors can try out a rotating astronaut seat, as well as see real and replica spacecraft and satellites.
  • Take a boat tour of Canal du Midi: Canal du Midi is a 241-kilometer man-made canal that, together with the Canal du Garonne, joins the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. If you’re visiting Toulouse between March and November, consider hopping aboard a boat to cruise part of the canal to get some beautiful views—including a lush tree canopy during late spring and summer. Private boats for hire and larger public boat tours are available from various points along the canal. Some tour operators also offer a lunch or dinner service. What better way to complement a day of cruising the Toulousain waters than with a hearty French meal?